The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-25
LowRY.s UNIQUE APPEAL.
Novel Features of the Congressional Contest
In the Twelfth District.

In the Tyyelfth D1StrlCt.
Washington Special.
The contest of Robert Lowry for the seat of
James B. White possesses some novel features.
Judge Lowry. a Democrat, was defeated by j.
B. White, q Republican, in the Fort Wayne dis
trlct of Indiana. The Judge held the seat two
terms. In making the contest ne does not raise
any question about the majority or about the
methods of the election. His original charge
was that Mr.. White had failed to take out sec
ond naturalization papers, and that an honor
able discharge from the army did not make him
eligible for election to Congress first papers.
But in the evidence taken and the briefs filed
both sides have gone into the merits of the cam
paign, and the attention Of the election commit
tee and of the House is invited to the arguments
and methods employed by each side previous to
election day.
Judge Lowry states under oath that his COM
pe,itors before the Democratic nominating con-
vention. contrary to all usage and precedent,
and in violation of the obligation of honor rest
ing upon those who have been aspirants for
favors at the hands of therparty, bolted the
nomination and confederated with the foes OF
the party, and united in the support of the
candidate presented by the organization TO
which they have always claimed to have an in
veterate hostility"
.'Amonst other things" he says, 'resorted to,
not only wae the host of those who have been
aspirants for and disappointed in getting ap-
pointments to Office aroused. IN opposition to my
candidacy, but in a large measure many of those
whose wishes had not been gratified by the Sc
lection of their friends procured to join
the gang upon the hypothesis that the contest
ant might have favored them and eratifed their
wishes in preference to the wishes OF those who
had been favored or cratfied."
There are many Democratic memb who
will symDatbize deeply with Judge Lowry In
the causes which brought about his defeat
They get into this Congress by the skin of their
teeth and they know for themselves how the
bolsIng and the disaffection over patronage
worked 10 the late campaign.
s'Thsss combined forces" the Judge contin-
ues. united In carrying OF a campaign unexam-
Piled for its unscrupulousness, me- ndacity, foul
ness and its corrupt methods-uuexampled,
think. in the whole history of the State"
Such an assertion this is calculated to
whet CURIOSITY. Indiana politics has sunk to
some pretty low degrees at times, and if Judge
Lowry has got that is unexampleG Con
gress and the country will want to hear about
it The Judge furnishes some details of the
methods he complains about He tells how the
knights of Labor vote was aenated from him
by the combined forces. as follows:
Amongst other devices. a cunningly devised
scheme was set Cd foot and carried out bv which
the organization of the Knights of Labor-a
large and meritorious body of men, whose
voting force is supposed to be some ], 1,500-were
prevented from seeking nominations at the
hands of Democratic conventions, but were In
duced to present nominees or their own there
without regard to their politics, for indorse-
ment; and. on failing to receive such indorse-
ment, that organization was impressed with as
surances that they had been snubbed and sat
down on by the Democratic party; that this was
done largely through the influence of the con-
testant. and in order to crafty his wishes, and,
in consequence. the vote OF that organization
was in great measure controlled by the COM
bined forces hostile to the contestant"
Another of the .'base resorts" made use of to
influence the Knights of Labor vote Judge
Lowry states, was Misrepresentation of his posi-
tion convict labor. He. Contestant. was
stiematized in the newspaper which was the
principal organ OF the contestee, and or which
he was the confessed patron. of being in favor of
con Wet labor and thus opposed to the interests
of that organanizaiion, whereas it Is we'll known
the contestant had invariably supported all
measures brought forward in the interest of the
labor organizations. and opposed the employ
ment of convict labor"
Next, the Judge, in this very unique presenta-
tion of the grounds on which he feels justified in
making the contest. tells how his former Demo
cratic friends assassnated his religious charac-
ter in q manner which cost him the church vote.
About this he says:
although himself born and raised Protest
ant, aud never favoring giving preference to
one religions denomination over another. GER
tain of his unsuccessful competitors and others
who were mem bers OF one of the Protestant de-
nominations and mum Der OF them disappont-
ed applicants for recommendations for office
1T the hands OF the contestant, foot the
howl in his absence, and kept it up until the
election, that the contestant had given undue
preference, in making recommendations to Of
fee, to members of the Catholic Church. where
as the truth that while qualifications and
deserts had been the bnsis of selection and not
religious tenets. it so happened that of those
lected for positions there was larger proportion
in reference to the grade of the office and tho
number of positions given to those belonging to
the denomin vtion which was thus sought 10 be
influenced, than TO the one which it was charged
was preferred
In such q campaign the soldier vote was not
overlooked. and. in regard 10 the manner in
which that element was worked upon, the judge
has grievance.
"Whiie devotng himself" he SAYS. with all
posi- BILE assiduity TO serve the interests OF the
ex-soters of the Republic, both while thus ab-
sent and during the election campaign, contest
ant wiIfully misrepresented to that eie-
mont. not only by the com bined forces to which
have referred. and by such of the press as were
their mouth-pieces, but by parties canvassing
in the interest of the contestee, and by the con-
testee himself, as hostile TO that element. And
with view Of influencing their yotes, while it